Linebacker TJ White (Jackson, Mississippi/ Jackson Academy) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.
Defensive Lineman Ezekiel Ayangbile Honored as a 2026 Navy All-American
Defensive lineman Ezekiel Ayangbile (Houston, Texas/ Langham Creek High School) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.
Jeff Passan believes Giants ‘make sense' for free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker
Jeff Passan believes Giants ‘make sense' for free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Giants’ offseason started over a month ago, but the MLB offseason has just begun.
Their main priority – finding a new leader – has been solved with the hiring of Tony Vitello. Now, the focus shifts to roster construction.
San Francisco’s outfield has been lacking star power. A top free agent fits the bill for the Giants, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
“[Kyle] Tucker falls in that interesting bucket where he will rightly demand a contract in excess of $300 million, but the number of teams willing to pay that will limit his options,” Passan wrote in a recent column. “The [Los Angeles] Dodgers and Giants make sense, as do the [Philadelphia] Phillies.”
Tucker is not expected to re-sign with the Chicago Cubs after being traded there last offseason by the Houston Astros. The Giants reportedly were one of the teams in trade talks with the Astros to acquire him at that time.
Tucker, a four-time All Star, has made just over $57 million in career earnings in his eight years of MLB service, according to Spotrac.
As Passan wrote, Tucker’s performance warrants a large, long-term contract. The Giants have become increasingly willing to sign such contracts, as evident with Matt Chapman’s extension, Willy Adames’ free-agent signing and the trade for Rafael Devers, who has a lucrative long-term contract.
Tucker, who will turn 29 before the start of next season, provides left-handed hitting which the Giants have been searching for in past years.
Last season with the Cubs, Tucker got off to a scorching start, batting .291 with 17 home runs in his first 83 games played. However, a hairline fracture in his hand hampered his production for the rest of the season. He hit just .225 in his final 53 games.
In addition to bolstering outfield depth, the Giants will need to rebuild a depleted bullpen. That need might become a factor in their determination of how much they can budget on a star position player like Tucker.
As it always seems, San Francisco will need to compete with the rival Dodgers as well in pursuit of landing the star.
USC Commit Trent Mosley Honored as a 2026 Navy All-American
Wide receiver Trent Mosley (Rancho Santa Margarita, California/ Santa Margarita Catholic High School) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.
Four-Star Defensive Back S’Vioarean Martin Honored as a 2026 Navy All-American
Defensive back S’Vioarean Martin (Palestine, Texas/ Palestine High School) was officially honored as a 2026 Navy All-American during a virtual jersey presentation as part of the Road to the Dome tour.
An unexpected combo is stepping up to fill Celtics' frontcourt void
An unexpected combo is stepping up to fill Celtics' frontcourt void originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
In the aftermath of the Celtics’ offseason roster overhaul, the question got asked ad nauseam: How would Boston rebuild its frontcourt after the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and Al Horford?
Now we know the answer: A whole lot of Neemias Queta and Josh Minott.
The Celtics are 4-2 since Minott elevated to a starting role alongside Queta, and even when the team has struggled to put together a complete 48 minutes, the numbers for the Queta-Minott combo have leaped off the page.
The Celtics have a +31.8 net rating in the 96 minutes that Minott and Queta have shared the floor this season. That includes eye-catching ratings on both the offensive (122.5) and defensive (90.7) ends of the floor. Of the 386 two-man lineups that have played at least 95 minutes this season, only the Miami frontcourt combo of Bam Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez Jr. has a better net rating (+32.4) than the Minott/Queta duo.
Boston has launched the 26-year-old Queta and the 22-year-old Minott into roles far beyond what’s been asked of them to this point in their NBA careers.
With 180 minutes played already, Minott soon will surpass the career-high 276 minutes he logged last season in Minnesota, and likely before his 23rd birthday arrives on November 25. Queta went from fourth on the Boston big-man depth chart last season to the clear-cut No. 1 big after the summer changes.
And while neither player has been perfect, they’ve thrived when paired together. Even as Celtics core starters Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have struggled to find their perimeter shots, the Minott version of Boston’s starting five has been among the most efficient combos in the NBA.
Of the 14 five-man lineups with at least 60 minutes together this season, the Celtics’ combo of Pritchard, White, Minott, Queta, and Jaylen Brown are outscoring opponents by a league-best 24.3 points per 100 possessions. That’s 3.5 points better than the next closest five-man combo (Minott’s old friends in Minnesota are at +21.7). Third on that list is the Orlando team that Boston will joust with twice this weekend.
Queta and Minott have had their rough patches. On Monday night, Queta didn’t just miss a key late-game free throw, he watched Jusuf Nurkic secure a rebound over him in the final seconds and produce a putback that lifted the lowly Utah Jazz to a 105-103 triumph at TD Garden.
Minott got in early foul trouble in that game, and the absence of his energy on the floor was palpable. He didn’t help matters when he picked up his third infraction almost immediately after returning to that game.
But they both bounced back Wednesday. Queta produced a double-double, putting up 15 points on perfect 7-for-7 shooting to go along with a team-high 12 rebounds. He also dished out five assists as the Celtics outscored Washington by 23 points in his 24 minutes of floor time.
Minott added a career-best 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. When he wasn’t soaring for alley-oop lobs or trying to posterize Wizards defenders on baseline drives, he was knocking down the above-the-break 3-pointers that have evaded him to start the season.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla further leaned into Minott’s energy by playing him as a small-ball center in some of Boston’s reserve pairings. The Celtics could get away with that against a team like Washington, and it will be intriguing to see how Mazzulla leans on that small-ball look moving forward.
The Celtics loved to play double-big last season with their robust big-man depth, but have found that energy and skill has often produced their best basketball this season.
Queta has been on the floor for some of Boston’s most inspiring play this season, with a +19.3 net rating in 206 minutes of floor time. Among the 186 players logging 20+ minutes per game with at least five appearances, Queta ranks second in the NBA in net rating. He’s one spot behind Jaquez Jr. (+19.7) and directly in front of a pair of Western Conference superstar big men in Denver’s Nikola Jokic (+19.2) and Houston’s Alperen Sengun (+19.0).
If Queta and Minott can distinguish themselves with energy and defense, then it’s intriguing to think how successful Boston’s starting five might be once Pritchard and White start knocking down 3s again. Despite his perimeter woes, Pritchard has found ways to positively impact winning, overcoming two early fouls on Wednesday to finish +36 in 24 minutes of floor time.
The Queta and Payton Pritchard combo has a +27.2 net rating in 156 minutes together. Of the 157 two-man combos that have logged 150+ minutes this season, Queta and Pritchard are 3.5 points better than the next closest duo (Houston’s Sengun and Amen Thompson at +23.7). A Derrick White-Queta combo is fifth on that list at +19.7.
You see the theme here: Good things happen with Queta and Minott on the court. They both have strides to make as individual players and they’ve only scratched the surface of their potential. The Utah game showed just how important it is for them to be laser focused.
The Celtics, too, have a long way to go to fill the void left behind by the departures of Porzingis, Horford and Kornet. The frontcourt depth is still razor thin, and even the Queta/Minott combo must show they can hold up against elite frontcourts. We’ll learn a lot more about this group with back-to-back games in Orlando, including an NBA Cup tilt on Friday night.
But it’s clear that Queta and Minott have been key in getting Boston on track this season. And they should be vital in getting the Celtics to where they want to go next.
Australia caught in spinners’ web as India win fourth T20 by 48 runs
Hosts fail to capitalise on good start chasing 168
Last nine wickets go for 52 in Gold Coast
India’s spinners trapped Australia in a web of despair to secure a 48-run win in the T20 international on the Gold Coast to take a 2-1 series lead.
India made 8-167 after being asked to bat on Thursday and Australia were tracking nicely at 1-67, but spinners Axar Patel (2-20) and Varun Chakravarthy (1-26) sent the required run rate skyrocketing as the pressure built on the hosts.
Continue reading...USMNT’s Pochettino admits he misses Premier League and would like to return in future
Argentinian says he is happy in current role
Pochettino will lead co-host US at World Cup
United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino has admitted he misses the Premier League and would like to return there in the future.
“The Premier League is the best league in the world,” he told the BBC in an interview published on Thursday. “Of course I am missing it. I am so happy in America but also thinking one day to come back to the Premier League. It’s the most competitive league.”
Continue reading...Tuning out? Deion Sanders ‘not a TV novelty anymore’ as ratings dip
Deion Sanders has been a master television showman, but his viewership numbers have trended downward significantly this season at Colorado
Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer Joins NHL On TNT: Chirps Henrik Lundqvist, Praises Isles Fan Base & More
On Wednesday night, New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer appeared on NHL on TNT to answer questions from the panel.
The interview begane with a question from Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender and New York Rangers legend Henrik Henrik Lundqvist about "pinch yourself" moments early on in his career.
Schaefer began his response with a chirp: "First off, it's pretty tough getting a Ranger asking the first question, not the Long Island native here", referring to Williston Park native Liam McHugh.
Enjoy the interview:
The full Matthew Schaefer @NHL_On_TNT interview, including dishin’ some NY rivalry chirps at @HLundqvistpic.twitter.com/sZp0850rGW
— The Elmonters (@TheElmonters) November 6, 2025
Schaefer has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 13 games this season, as he's off to a fiery start to his NHL career.
He and the team are back in action on Friday nigth at UBS Arena against the Minnesota Wild.
Blue Jackets Roasted By Flames; Lose Sean Monahan To Injury
Kirill Marchenko(6-SHG) scored the only goal for Columbus, and Jet Greaves would give up four goals, including two in the first 1:32 of the game to seal it for Calgary.
The Jackets didn't play too bad after the initial onslaught by Calgary but couldn't overcome those two goals. The Jackets would fall to the Flames in Calgary.
First Period - 2-1 Flames - 13-10 SOG - CBJ Goal - Kirill Marchenko(6-SHG)
Not a good start for Columbus. Just 56 seconds into the game, Morgan Frost put the Flames up 1-0. 36 Seconds later, Blake Coleman scored to make it 2-0. Yeah, not a good start.
Kirill Marchenko cut the lead in half at 6:57 of the first with a shorthanded goal. He went streaking down the center of the ice and took a pass from Boone Jenner to beat Dustin Wolf. That was the CBJ's first shortie of the season. With that goal, which was his 6th, he extended his points streak to six games.
The period slowed after the Marchenko goal, but Columbus was able to pull even on the shot clock and controlling most of the play. The period ended 2-1, and Jackets fans had to feel a lot better in the final 19 minutes of the period.
Second Period - 4-1 Flames - 11-7 - No CBJ Goals
The Blue Jackets came out in the second with some good jump and put some pressure on Flames goalie Dustin Wolf. Unfortunately for Columbus, he's really good.
Nazem Kadri scored 7:47 into the second to push the lead to 3-1. Kadri broke out on a 2-on-1 and beat Jet Greaves in his 1000th NHL game. Both of the Jackets defensemen were too deep and gave up a breakout. Under a minute later, Adam Klapka scored to make it 4-1, which pretty much would put the game on ice. Yet another 2-on-1 breakaway for the Flames.
The Wheels are starting to get shaky on the Blue Jackets bus.
The Blue Jackets actually controlled a lot of the second period, putting some quality shots on Dustin Wolf; they just couldn't beat him. They had more scoring chances and high-danger scoring chances as well. This turned into one of "those" games. By the end of the period, they started chasing the puck more and it was looking like they were going to give up a 5th goal.
Third Period
The Blue Jackets were awarded their first power play at 57 seconds when Kevin Bahl hooked Charlie Coyle. The Flames killed it fairly easily to keep the lead at 4-1.
The Blue Jackets outplayed and outshot the Flames for the first 9 minutes of the third period, pumping 11 shots at Wolf before going to the power play with a little less than 12 minutes to play in the game. Columbus killed the penalty and kept it a three-score game.
The game was played 4-on-4 for two minutes when Ivan Provorov and Rasmus Andersson went to the box with matching minors. Nothing happened and the game would remain 4-1 Flames.
Dean Evason would pull Jet Greaves with around five minutes to go in the game, but again, Dustin Wolf was too good and would stop everything.
The Flames would add an empty net goal with under a minute left to send the Jackets to Vancouver with a second straight loss.
Injuries - Sean Monahan looked to have injure his left hand or wrist. He took three shifts in the third and then left the game. Hopefully, it's just precautionary, and he'll be back for Vancouver on Saturday.
Final Stats
Player Stats
- Kirill Marchenko scored his 6th goal of the season. He extended his points streak to 6 games and is on a point-per-game pace.
- Boone Jenner picked up his 6th assist of the season.
- Ivan Provorov had 6 shots on goal to lead the team.
- Jet Greaves could only make 21 saves on 25 Calgary shots.
Team Stats
- The Jackets power play went 0/1.
- The Columbus PK stopped two Flames power plays.
- Columbus won 58.8% of the faceoffs.
- The Blue Jackets had 22 of their shots blocked by Calgary.
Up Next: They visit the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, Nov. 8th, and then the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, Nov. 10th. They will wrap up their Western swing with a matchup against the Seattle Kraken.
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Phils linked to Angels' sluggers Jo Adell, Taylor Ward in recent report originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Right-handed hitters. Phillies fans might get sick of hearing how much the organization values adding them this offseason.
Wednesday — the day before free agency opened — offered another example. On MLB Network’s Hot Stove, Jon Morosi reported that the Los Angeles Angels are considering trading outfielders Jo Adell and Taylor Ward, adding that there’s a “better than 50-50 chance” one of them gets moved. And yes, the Phillies were the team highlighted that could swing a deal.
Jo Adell’s 2025 breakout
Adell, 26, was the Angels’ first-round pick in 2017 and one of baseball’s most hyped prospects before injuries and inconsistency stalled him. From 2020–23, he never played more than 88 games in a season. In 2024, he finally earned a full-time role in right field, hitting 20 homers among 37 extra-base hits but finishing with a .207 average.
A year later, everything clicked. Adell quietly turned in one of baseball’s most underrated seasons at the plate – 37 home runs, 98 RBIs, and a .236/.293/.485 line for a .778 OPS, finishing fourth in the American League in homers.
The advanced numbers backed it up. His .565 expected slugging, 17.3% barrel rate, and 77.6 mph bat speed all ranked inside the top four percent of MLB. But the swing-and-miss remains a problem – 151 strikeouts, a 25th-percentile whiff rate, and just 33 walks.
Defensively, Adell struggled again. He played 89 games in center and 69 in right but ranked last in Outs Above Average, with below-average arm strength. On a contender like Philadelphia, he’d likely fit best as a corner outfielder or part-time DH, depending on whether Kyle Schwarber returns.
Still, there’s no denying the physical tools. At 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, Adell has real middle-of-the-order power and the athleticism to one day succeed in the outfield.
Sep 3, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Taylor Ward (3) bats during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Taylor Ward’s consistency
Ward, 31, brings a more polished version of that same right-handed power profile. Another first-round pick (2015), he’s hit 23-plus homers in three of the last four seasons, missing only in 2024 after a fastball fractured his nose and orbital bone.
He came back stronger in 2025, hitting 36 homers with 103 RBIs and a .228 average, ranking fifth in the AL in home runs, sixth in RBIs, and seventh in extra-base hits (69). Ward does strike out a ton (175 times last season) but offsets it with strong plate discipline – 75 walks (seventh in the AL) and a 20.7% chase rate, good for the 92nd percentile.
He’s the steadier of the two hitters and could bring much-needed lineup protection for Bryce Harper or potentially whoever occupies Schwarber’s old role. Ward’s plate discipline and ability to grind at-bats make him a strong middle-of-the-order fit. Defensively, he’s played a ton in left field – especially this past season – and a fair amount in right.
Player outlook, trade pieces
Adell is under control through 2027 and projected to make about $4.5 million in arbitration this season. Ward, on the other hand, is entering his final season under contract, set to earn around $11 million. The Angels’ farm system is light on position players and loaded with pitching – just two Top 100 prospects (Tyler Bremner and Ryan Johnson), both arms – which makes the Phillies a logical partner.
Many would suggest sending Justin Crawford – who will compete for an everyday role in Spring Training for the Phils – but he’s not necessarily a fit in Anaheim. The Angels’ top outfield prospect, Nelson Rada, has a nearly identical skill set – left-handed, high-contact, high-speed – making that swap less likely.
After sending Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel to Minnesota for Jhoan Duran, the Phillies’ system is thinner but still offers solid bats. Infield prospects like Aroon Escobar and Keaton Anthony along with outfielders Dante Nori and Gabriel Rincones Jr. could draw interest.
If the Halos aim to stay competitive, Alec Bohm could also fit their needs for 2026; they have an opening at third base after Yoán Moncada hit free agency following a .783 OPS season.
My take
Adell’s upside – and team control – is strong which means his cost will be too. Ward makes more sense – a right-handed hitter with patience, solid-enough defense and one year of control.
Projected deal: Phillies send OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. and 1B Keaton Anthony to the Angels for Ward.
Ward’s name has floated in Phillies rumors before, and the fit remains true. He posted a .918 OPS vs. left-handers in 2025, a skillset that would complement lefty bats like Brandon Marsh and potentially Schwarber, if he’s back.
A new-look Ward–Crawford–Marsh outfield balances the lineup with power, speed and athleticism – giving the Phillies another reliable right-handed bat in an offseason where that is their largest priority.
Missed Opportunity? Ex-Flyers Prospect Reaching Heights of NHL Superstars After Controversial Trade
The Cutter Gauthier saga is well done and dusted at this stage, but some new developments are probably making it hard for the Philadelphia Flyers, and especially their fans, to not feel some type of regret towards the situation.
Gauthier, 21, recorded his first career hat trick for the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, thrusting him into a five-way tie for the NHL lead in goals (10) that includes himself, Cole Caufield, and superstar forwards Leon Draisaitl, Jack Hughes, and Nathan MacKinnon.
The Flyers, too, have a negative connection to Caufield, who was bypassed for defenseman Cam York in 2019.
Overall, though, Gauthier is now on a seven-game point streak that dates back to Oct. 21, and he's already up to 10 goals, six assists, and 16 points in just 12 games with the Ducks.
And, to top it all off, Gauthier, per the Ducks' PR staff, is the first NHL player aged 21 or younger to score 10 goals in his first 12 games of a season since Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews did so in the 2018-19 season.
Between the league leaders in goals and that last stat, Gauthier is in pretty good company.
As for the Flyers, they did get a solid return with the addition of Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick that recently became Jack Murtagh, but that doesn't quite compare to what their former top draft pick is doing over in Anaheim.
Note from Ducks PR:
— Patrick Present (@PatrickCPresent) November 5, 2025
Cutter Gauthier is the first NHL player 21 or younger to score 10 goals in his first 12 games of a season since Connor McDavid in 2018-19 and Auston Matthews in 2018-19#FlyTogether
Drysdale, 23, is starting to look like he's finally coming into his own this season after years of struggles marred by injury. He's now the team's best driver of play on defense, and his five points in 13 games is solid, too.
At the same time, is it enough offense to continue vaulting a player of his 5-foot-11 size into a featured role on a competitive NHL defense?
It's not common, but it isn't like it hasn't happened before, either. Players like Gus Forsling, Alex Carrier, Jared Spurgeon, Andy Greene, Sean Walker, Dante Fabbro, Nick Jensen, Nate Schmidt, and Rasmus Sandin are all not the biggest guys and don't/did not produce crazy offensive numbers, but emerged as reliable top-four defenders at some point in their careers.
Some later than others, yes, but it happened.
Are any of those worth a potential 40-goal-scorer like Gauthier on an ELC? With the exception of Forsling, no, even though Spurgeon and Greene eventually became captains for Minnesota and New Jersey, respectively.
Flyers' Trevor Zegras Gets Big Praise From Canadiens StarTrevor Zegras' great start to the season has gotten the attention of Canadiens star Cole Caufield. Eventually, too, Drysdale is going to have to push his offense and creativity a little further to reach the heights some of those players reached, which means consistent 30- and 40-point seasons.
The former No. 6 overall pick is on pace for 31 currently - one fewer than his previous career high of 32 - and he earns some grace in that the Flyers are the 10th-worst team in the NHL in scoring this season - worse than the Chicago Blackhawks.
At some point, the production may come, or it may not, but the final verdict on the Flyers' controversial trade will depend on it.
They did well enough managing a situation that was never going to work out for them, but it's fair to question why the Flyers drafted someone who would come to spurn them, and question what motivated Gauthier to spurn them to begin with.
Thanks, Maple Leafs! Flyers' Nikita Grebenkin Scores 1st NHL Goal to Help Beat CanadiensFlyers rookie Nikita Grebenkin continues to make a case for more ice time with his assist against the Maple Leafs and first NHL goal against the Canadiens.It's likely those answers won't come until after Gauthier's playing days are over or until after this Flyers regime runs its course, but this discourse will always come to the forefront for as long as Gauthier plays well and succeeds in the NHL.
The same is true of Zeev Buium and Jett Luchanko, and Cole Caufield and Cam York.
The Flyers have no way of running from their recent past, especially as long as the team is not making meaningful pushes for Stanley Cups.
Objectively, though, Gauthier's sudden breakout after a solid rookie campaign represents a missed opportunity on the Flyers' end, but it's too late now. The results are the results.
Panthers in Los Angeles looking to break out of road funk
The Florida Panthers will look to bounce back from a tough start to their road trip when they face the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.
Florida dropped their trip opener to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday by an embarrassing final score of 7-3, a game that the Cats were actually leading 3-2 midway through.
Now they’ll look to get back on the winning side of thins against a Kings squad that, much like the Panthers, are working their way through an inconsistent start to the season.
Los Angeles started the season with only one win over their first six outings, but since then they’ve gone 5-1-2.
Overall, the Kings have only four regulation losses through 14 games, which isn’t bad at all.
As for the Panthers, they got right back to work on Wednesday following Tuesday’s loss to the Ducks.
Florida held a practice at the Kings’ training facility, the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, where the theme seemed to be getting back to the basics.
“We’ve played hard games in LA, and I expect that (tomorrow),” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “I’d like to see us get back to that a little bit. We worked on some things today at practice that we just didn’t have enough of in our game last night.”
A Panthers player who has seen a good amount of success during his career in Los Angeles is the same guy who paces the team in scoring so far this season: Brad Marchand.
Through 12 games, Marchand leads all Panthers with 7 goals and 13 points. He’s currently riding a five-game point streak in which he’s accumulated 4 goals and 7 points.
Over the course of his career, Marchand has racked up 16 goals and 26 points over 23 games in Los Angeles, including a plus-19 on-ice rating. He’s also riding a five-game point streak in Los Angeles, with 5 goals and 10 points during the run.
Here are the Panthers projected lines and pairings for Thursday’s tilt with the Kings:
Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Sam Reinhart
Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand
Jesper Boqvist – Sam Bennett – Mackie Samoskevich
A.J. Greer – Cole Schwindt – Noah Gregor
Gus Forsling – Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola – Seth Jones
Dominic Sebrango – Jeff Petry
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Photo caption: Oct 16, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) celebrates his goal against the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Prudential Center. (Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images)
Draymond clarifies offense vs. defense championship debate with Kevin Durant
Draymond clarifies offense vs. defense championship debate with Kevin Durant originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Draymond Green vs. Kevin Durant: Pt. 5,431.
As the two former Warriors teammates continue their back-and-forth debate regarding whether offense or defense wins NBA championships, Green shared another in-depth response to clarify his initial stance.
“KD was responding to me saying teams that play defense win championships. I wasn’t saying that teams that play defense don’t play offense. No, the fact of the matter is you have to be top 10 offensively and top 10 defensively to win an NBA championship,” Green said on his “The Draymond Green Show” podcast, which was published Thursday morning. “That’s just the facts of the matter. When KD says the offense was [question mark], well, the offense was incredible. Just like their offense was incredible in Brooklyn, and just like their offense was incredible in Phoenix. It was incredible! Great offense. Very tough to stop.
“But, offense with no defense, we’ve seen that in the NBA in years past, we’ll see that in the NBA for years to come. Teams with offense and no defense. My point was you show me a team that don’t play defense, I’m going to show you a team that don’t win championships.”
The ongoing debate began when Durant, on Netflix’s “Starting 5” series, argued offense wins championships.
“You have to score baskets if you want to win a championship,” Durant said. “Playing defense, we can get any one of y’all in here to bend your legs, not touch the basketball, slide left and right, and contest the shot. That’s easy. But when we’re talking about winning at a high level against the best of the best, you cannot just do that and win a basketball game.”
Green, a defensive mastermind, of course had to respond.
But the Warriors forward re-emphasized that his comments never were targeted directly at Durant, later clarifying that on his podcast.
“My statement was that I mentioned people who believe you don’t need defense to win championships simply don’t win. Kevin Durant has two championships. So I don’t even know why he took my statement as a hit on him when I said people that don’t win championships. You won two championships, so that shouldn’t include you unless you feel that that statement includes you.”
Green also made one more thing clear: despite the back-and-forth, “there ain’t no beef” between him and Durant, rather just a playful debate between two competitors passionate about the game of basketball.
Finally, Green ended his argument on one final note.
“I think the proof speaks for itself. You look at teams that have great defenses and great offenses, and they win championships. Teams that have great defenses and no great offense, they usually get to the playoffs and lose. Teams that have great offense and no defense, they usually get to the playoffs and lose, or don’t even make the playoffs at all.
“So fact of the matter is you need to be top 10 in both.”
There you have it.
At least, until Durant responds.